Indiana auto supplier Tasus building Alabama plant

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FLORENCE, ALA. (Sept. 11, 3:05 p.m. ET) — Auto supplier Tasus Corp. is preparing to launch construction of a $19 million injection molding plant in Alabama while also setting up temporary production in the area to help it meet existing customer demand until the permanent site opens.

Bloomington, Ind.-based Tasus expects to hire 135 people in Florence during the next three to five years, the company said in a Sept. 11 press release.

But as local contractors in Florence build the 104,000-square-foot facility, Tasus has begun outfitting a temporary plant with four presses and will begin production in November.

Tasus is immediately hiring workers for the temporary site, and those workers will transfer to the permanent plant once it opens in October 2013, said Melanie Hart, president and CEO. The first few Alabama employees already have been hired, and Tasus has additional job listings for immediate positions posted on its website.

Tasus’ other facilities, in Georgetown, Texas, and Bloomington, are operating near capacity. Shifting an expected $8 million in production to Florence will provide room for new business at those sites, she said. The company has also installed tighter racking systems in the Indiana and Texas operations to help clear production space.

Walt Barkalow, general manager of Tasus Texas, will also serve as general manager for Tasus Alabama.

The company is part of Tsuchiya Co. Ltd. of Nagoya, Japan, which also has operations in Hamilton, Ontario, and Georgetown. Tasus produces 52 million auto parts annually at its U.S operations, with primary production in injection molding. Its presses have clamping forces ranging from 150-1,450 tons.

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